Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-10-06
COURTSHIP IN RUSSIA.
How Beautiful Slavonic Girls Are
WOOed and Won.

of Russia, of which l will endeavor to
draw a pen picture and show my
American readers that the young men
and maidens of my country are in M
wise different from those of other and
more favored chimes. They are, per-
haps, little more demonstrative, less
given TO concealing the feelings of the
heart, and less inclined to regard
money as a necessary consideration in
the settlement of heart affairs. When
a Russian girl loves it is with her whole
heart; her love surmounts all obstacles.
speak from experience.
1t is the custom of the Russian young
folks to meet together by appointment
in the long. stormy winter evenings,
selecting the house of each one in turn.
Boys and girls come gayly dressed in
/pliday attire, the latter carrying their
looms and linen thread, which they are
supposed to convert into the much
priced linen. These pretty young
misses pass the hours in idle gossip un-
til the time approaches for the arrival
of the sterner sex, when each one hies
to her loom and begins to work most
earnestly, by which means they seek
to impress on the minds of Their lovers
their capabilities of becoming good
wives and housekeepers; but this
feigned industry does not last long,
for when the male members have en-
tered the chamber work is suspended,
and pleasure begins by the young men
inviting their friends to join them in
forming a circle. This done, they all
join in singing, after which one of the
girls selects her young gentleman moi
miloD, my love. rs she calls him, and
leads him into the middle of the circle,
then walks back and forth, chanting a
love song, in which the rest of the
guests join. In the song usually Sc
lected she tells of the beauty of the
lover she has chosen; how much she
loves him; how she would leave home
and parents. brothers, sisters and
friends. and follow him the wide world
over. As the song runs, she would
follow him across the seven oceans or
over seven high mountains, and rest
beneath their shadow, where she could
enjoy her happiness undisturbed.
SO in turn each girls selects her moi
miloi and leads him into the circle,
when the same love chanting is re-
peated until all the girls have made
their choice. Next in turn come the
young men, who each select partner
and 90 through the same performance,
the whole affair terminating withe the
dancing of the Russian Cossack.
AT the conclusion of this dance each
young peasant escorts the object of his
choice to her home. At these gather
ings they are as free as the birds of the
air and take for their mate whomso-
ever they will. without any regard to a
third party. When the time arrives
that a formal declaration is to be
made, the youth, accompanied by some
member or members of his family. who
are supposed to aid materially III OBJ
tanning the parents consent, proceeds
TO the home of his ladylove and there
makes known his wishes to the father
and mother.
The mother, not at all surprised,
usually reads the young man a long
lecture on the duties and burdens of
married life. bewailing ell the ills and
speaking of few of the blessings. and
ends by declaring her daughter is too
young to marry yet, too young to be
given over to the cruel tyranny of an
exacting husband. She prefers to see
her as free and happy as the birds of
her native woods. All this is but a
custom which must be observed. so
fearful are they that the young man
might suppose his bride too easily
won. The sutton. further to cOnciliate
the mother. now begins to lavish all
kinds of presents on her. according to
his means. at the same time telling
her how much he loves her daughter
and how happy he will make her dar-
ling. A glowing description of how
bright he will make her future life
follows. To his vivid Imagination
every thing is rainbow lhued. and in a
language SO poetical as the Russian it
is grand and impressive to hear this
sutton of the daughters hand pour
forth his torrent of eloquent words.
The mother listens attentively to the
burning, soul-stirring language, appar-
emily weighing in deep thought all he
SAWS, looking occasionally at the pres
ents presented to her. and which 1
much fear are the keys which unlock
the door of her heart. She finally gives
a rather unwilling assent. with the pro-
viso if the father is willing This is a
needless pecaution on her part. for as
= rule the father is only too willing to
ease himself of the burden of daugh-
tsr's support